Plum tree named &#39;LRP40A&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct plum variety is described. The variety results from selection among a population of seedlings derived from collecting seed from open pollinated fruit. Seedlings generated from the open pollination were planted out at Lawn Road, Havelock North, Hawke&#39;s Bay, New Zealand. In 2003, ‘LRP40A’ was identified as having potential as a new variety and was propagated for further trials. ‘LRP40A’ was selected for its desirable tree and fruit characteristics, and the timing of the harvest.

GENUS AND SPECIES OF PLANT CLAIMED

Prunus salicina

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘LRP40A’

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

Seedlings obtained from collecting seed from open pollinated fruit wereplanted out at Lawn Road, Havelock North, Hawke's Bay, New Zealand in2000. In March 2003, ‘LRP40A’ was identified as having potential as anew variety. Later in 2003, ‘LRP40A’ was first asexually propagated bybudding onto ‘Golden Queen’ (not patented) peach seedling rootstock.‘Golden Queen’ seedlings are a standard plum rootstock in New Zealand.The trees were planted out in Hawke's Bay during the southern hemispherewinter of 2004. The resulting plants propagated true to type,demonstrating that the characteristics of the new variety are stable andtransmitted without change through succeeding generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Under the New Zealand growing conditions ‘LRP40A’ is distinguished fromvarieties of common knowledge such as ‘Royal Star’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No.7,192), ‘Omega’ (not patented) and its sibling ‘LRP40/205’ by thefollowing characteristics:

The fruit of ‘Royal Star’ are cordate in shape with a truncate basewhereas the fruit of ‘LRP40A’ is oblate in shape with a slightlydepressed base and typically ripens approximately two weeks later. Theskin colour of ‘Royal Star’ fruit is darker than that of ‘LRP40A’ whilethe flesh colour is lighter.

The fruit of ‘Omega’ ripens significantly earlier than that of ‘LRP40A’,early February and late March to early April respectively.

The fruit of ‘LRP40A’ are larger, cordate in shape, moderatelyasymmetric with a lightly mottled skin colour while the fruit of‘LRP40A’ is oblate in shape and slightly asymmetric with a darker moresolid skin colour.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

The accompanying photographs show typical specimens of the, foliage,flowers and fruit of the new variety as depicted in colours as nearlytrue as is reasonably possible to make the same in a colour illustrationof this character.

FIG. 1 shows fruit of ‘LRP40A’ on a two year old tree in the field (Aand B).

FIG. 2 shows fruit of ‘LRP40A’ (A) whole and (B) longitudinal section

FIG. 3 shows ‘LRP40A’ (A) flowers at full bloom, (B) fully expanded leafupper side, and (C) fully expanded leaf lower side.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE VARIETY

The following is a brief description of the new variety with colourterminology in accordance with The Royal Horticultural Society ColourCharts (R.H.S.C.C.) 2001 edition. The specimens described were grown inHawke's Bay, New Zealand. The observations were made of the 2010-2012seasons on mature trees which ranged in age between two and seven yearsold. Trees were grown under standard orchard practices.

-   Tree: considered to be a small-medium sized tree, ‘LRP40A’ is low    vigour. ‘LRP40A’ scions are compatible with ‘Golden Queen’ peach    seedlings which are the standard plum rootstock in New Zealand. Tree    health is considered to be good under Hawke's Bay conditions in New    Zealand with average yield of 50 kg per tree which is considered to    be excellent under New Zealand conditions, with a similar precocity    to commercially grown varieties in the area.-   Trunk: average circumference was measured to be approximately 215    mm, measured approximately 200 mm above the graft union. The trunk    was coloured near grey-brown N199B and near brown 200B, branches    were coloured near brown N200A with near greyed-orange 165A    lenticles on both the trunk and branches.-   Leaves: the leaves examined were fully expanded and harvested from    physiologically mature trees. The overall shape of the leaves was    oblanceolate with a cuspidate tip, an acuminate base and serrulate    margins. Leaves are clustered on spurs and singular on young    branches. The colour of the upper side of the leaf was near green    137A and moderately glossy, while the lower side was near green    137C-D. The reticulate venation was coloured near yellow-green 145C    extending to near green 145B on the underside at the end of the    petiole. The average length of the blade was approximately 109.7 mm    with an average width of approximately 38.6 mm.-   Petiole: the average petiole length of fully expanded leaves was    20.0 mm with an average width of 2.0 mm. The colour of the upper    side was near yellow-green 144A. The colour of the underside is    described above.-   Flowers: flower observations were made at full bloom which occurred    mid to late September in Hawke's Bay, New Zealand. Flowers had a    subtle fragrance. Flowers were clustered in groups of between one    and three flowers.-   Corolla: five petals per flower, with an average length of 10.0 mm    and average width of 8.0 mm. Petals are predominantly free with some    touching or slightly overlapping. The petal shape was observed to be    broadly obovate with slightly undulate margins. The petals were near    white N155A-B.-   Stamens: an average of 30 per flower. Filaments were an average    length of 6.8 mm and translucent white in colour. The dorsifixed    anthers were near yellow-orange 14A in colour.-   Carpel: pistil length was on average 8.5 mm in length.-   Pedicel: average length was 5.2 mm and width 1.1 mm. Coloured near    yellow-green 144C.-   Calyx: five sepals per flower, average length of 3.0 mm and width    2.6 mm with an obtuse apex and smooth margin. Coloured near    yellow-green 144B.-   Fruit: harvested late March early April in Hawke's Bay, New Zealand    depending on the season. Fruit are borne on both spurs and long    shoots.-   Size: fruit at harvest maturity were on average 118.54 g. Average    height was 53.3 mm, width (lateral) 58.4 mm, and width (ventral)    63.1 mm.-   Shape: fruit were slightly asymmetric, and oblate in shape, with a    shallow suture, and a slightly depressed base.-   Skin: fruit surface is smooth with a medium bloom. Background colour    near red 53A and 45D.-   Over colour: covers 95-99% of the fruit surface in a solid flush    with a colour near greyed purple N187B-C with bloom, and near greyed    purple 187A, near greyed purple N186C, and near purple N77A in the    darkest areas with near red-purple 59A in lighter areas. Lenticels    were coloured near yellow-orange 20B.-   Flesh: fine grained and consistently dense, with a medium firmness.    Colour is near greyed purple 185B and red-purple 60A in darkest    areas and near red 45C in the lightest areas. The stone cavity    colour is near greyed purple 187B and N77A.-   Stone: elliptic in shape with an obtuse apex. Average dry weight was    1.6 g, with an average height of 20.6 mm, width (lateral) 16.2 mm,    and width (ventral) 11.3, with a narrow stalk end average width    2.5 mm. Stone is clingstone and has a colour near greyed orange 165    D.-   Peduncle: average length was 17.0 mm and width 3.0 mm. Coloured near    greyed orange 166C.-   Flavour: Flavour is sweet with low acidity.-   Use: fresh eating, potential for processing-   Keeping quality: Fruit stores for over 8 weeks at 0° C.

1. A new and distinct plum plant substantially as illustrated anddescribed.